Well-drilling cutter and bearing therefor



July 19 1927.

C. E. REED WELL DRILLING CUTTER AND BEARING THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Se t. 27, 1926 Ijqqp Su mph): 'eJZCcE FZecY.

July 19.1927. 1 1.636.663. c. E. REED WELL DRILLING CUTTER AND BEARING THEREFOR Filed Sept. 27, 1926 2 sheets sheet 2 patentcd july 19, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

cLAnaNc'n a. alarm, or wrcin'ra, mmsas.

WELL-DRILLING CUTTER AND miaanm THEREFOR.

Application illed 8eptember 27, 1936. Serial Kc. 183,061.

The present invention pertains to deep well drilling apparatus and particularly to the rolling cutters for rotary boring drills and the hearings on which they are mounted 6 in the drill head. Y t

Heretofore, in ordinary ractice the bearings in the drill head for-the rolling cutters were attached to thedrill head by meansof a left-handed thread connection, so that the 10 clockwise rotation ofthe drill would tend to tighten the threads and thus prevent separation of the cutter and its hearing from the drill head. However, in lowering andraising the drill in the bore hole, contact of the 5 cutters with the sides of the hole rotates them in either direction, frequently loosening the cutter bearings threaded connection with the drill.

of 'roller cutter and bearing assembly in which the'above mentioned difliculties are' overcome. It is particularly sought to provide a. simple form of bearing, that is, one

u of few parts, thereby enabling them to be made rugged in order to withstand the wear and tear to which they are subjected.

A further object is to provide a roller cutter and bearing assembly which may be man- 80 nfactured without difliculty and can be assembled and disassembled readily, the latter feature being of the utmost importance to the drill operator. A further object is the construction of. the roller cutter and the 85 hearing, so that the entire bearing is located within the body of the cutter. Consequently only the roller cutter, and not. the bearing, is exposed to the frictional contact with the bore hole and the dbris being carried out 40 of the hole by the flushing fluid.

A construction is provided by the present invention, whereby the cutter bearing parts are assembled and effectively interlocked so as to prevent their accidental separation.

5 I-tlis further contemplated that the cutter and "hearing be so constructed and arranged as to preventwear and tear by the cutter on the drill head."

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which is disclosed several practical embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1,a elevational view, partially in full and partially in section of a rotory horing drill ead on which is mounted a pair of roller cutters in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2, an elevational view of the samesame bearing with certain of the parts in partially assembled condition;

Fig. 6, a similar view of certain of the parts in fully assembled condition, certain of the parts being shown in section;

Fig. (I, a side view of a-modified form of the inner bearing member;

Fig. 8, a vertical central section of a correspondingly modified form of the outer bearing member; and,

Fig. 9, a side elevation, partly in full and partly in section, of a modified form of the bearin fully assembled. I

In t e drawings in Fi 1 there is shown a rotary boring drill. having a head 1. Mounted on the lower end of the head 1 is a air of rolling cutters, these cutters and the earings on which they are mounted on the drill head being constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention.

The roller cutters are represented at 2, 2 and, since they are duplicates, as is also the case with their bearings, only the cutter and bearing on the.righthand side of Fig. 1 will be described.

The lower end of drill head 1 is tapered so as to form oppositely inclined faces 3, 4

.thereon. Forming an integral part ofdrill head 1 and projectin at right angles from each of the inclined i aces 3, 4 is a laterally projecting spindle or roller cutter hearing member 5. Each spindle or bearing member 5 is formed withwa reduced intermediate portion 6 and a still further reduced outer portion 7, all of these portions being circular in crosssection and disposed concentrically with reference to each other. Reference is had to Fig. 4 wherein the details of the construction of bearing member or spindle 5 are shown. By reason of the provision of the reduced portions 6 and 7 on bearing member 5, the member has formed thereon an inner circumferential shoulder 8 and an" outer circumferential shoulder 9, the purpose of which will ap ear hereinafter.

Located on e intermediate portion 6 of bearing member 5 and formed as an integral part thereof are a pair of radially- -project1ng, arcuate lugs or wings 10, 11, which are of uniform thickness and are need from and disposed substantially ara el to circumferential shoulder 8. ugs 10, 11 each extend approximately one quarter or 90 de ees around the periphery of portion 6 of aring member 5 and are arranged diametrically o posite each other with their outer .faces ush' with the .circumferential shoulder 9. The arrangement and size of wings or lugs 10, 11 being as described, the arcuate spaces 12, 13 between these lugs also cover 90 degrees on the circumference of portion 6 of bearing member 5. Theouter reduced portion 7 of bearing member 5 has a transverse opening 14 formed therein, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

-Mounted on inner bearing member 5 and securely interlocked therewith is an outer, annular bearing member 15. The outer end of bearingmember 15 is provided with a circumferential fl'ange 16 forming a bearing shoulder 17. I

At its inner end bearing member 15 is. formed internally with a pair of radiallyprojecting, arcuate wings or lugs .18, 19. Lugs 18, 19 have their outer faces arranged flush with the!v adjoining end of bearing member 15. The lugs are arranged diametrically opposite each other and each extends one quarter of the way around the inside of the bearing member.

The internal diameter of outer bearing member 15 is such that the member can be fairly'snugly telescopcd over the outer edges of the lugs or wings 10, 11 of inner bearing member 5. In telescoping bearing members 5 and 15 to assemble the bearing, lug 18 of the outer member 15 passes into the space 12 of the inner member 5 and lug 19 of the outer member 15 passes into the space 13 between the lugs on the inner member 5. At the same time lugs 10, 11 of inner member 5'pass into the arcuate spaces 20, 21, respectively, between lugs 18, 19 in the outer bearing member 15. Lugs 10, 11 and spaces 12, 13 on the inner member 5 and lugs 18, 19 and spaces 20, 21 on outer bearing member 15 are all substantially of the same size and shape so that the parts interfit.

The assembly of the members 5, 15 of the roller cutter bearing is then completed by further telescoping cutter member '15 on inner member 5 until the outer member is brought against the circumferential shoulder 8 on the inner member and then rotating the two members a quarter turn or 90 degrees so as to move lugs 18, 19 of the outer member directly behind lugs 10, 11, respectively, of the inner member. The position of these parts when they are fully telescoped, but

before theyare rotated to interlocking position, is shown in Fig.5. In Fig. 6 the osi tions of the parts are shown after they ave been rotated and are fully interlocked.

As heretofore stated, wings 10, 11 in inner bearing member 5 are spaced from the circumferential shoulder 8. This space is approximately the width of wings 18, 19 on the bearing member 15, so that these wings fit into the space between the wings and circumferential shoulder 8 on the inner bearin member when the parts are assembled.

fter bearing-members 5 and 15'have been assembled and interlocked as just described, they are locked securely in this position by means of an annular member 22. Member 22 is provided on one face thereof with a pair of integral, diametrically-opposed, arcuate legs or lugs 23, Z'li glhiS locking member 22 and 'itilugs m1- made of such size that the lock member fits in the outer end of the outer beari member 15 with its lugs extendin into 821% filling the arcuate spaces 25, 26

tween the wings 10, 11 and 18, 19 on the completely assembled bearing members 5, 15, respectively, as shown in Fig.

6. In this figure the annular or main body portion of locking member 22 is omitted in order to clearly show the arrangement of the other parts of the bearing. Locking member 22 is shoved into place in the bearing until the inner ends of its legs 23, 24 abut against shoulder 8 of inner bearing member 5 and the inner face of the annular portion of member 22 abuts against shoulder 9 on bearing member 5.

The pal'ts'of the bearing are proportioned so that when they are assembled as just described, part of the reduced portion 7 of inner bearing member 5 projects beyond the outer face of locking member 22. In this end of bearing member 5, as heretofore stated, there is provided a transverse opening 14. This opening is adapted to receive a cotter pin 27 which serves to secure lock ing mem er 22 in place.

In order to permit access to-cottcr pin 27 for its insertion or removal, the outer end of bearing member 15 is provided with a pair of diametrically-opposed, radially (lisposed grooves '28, 29. For the same purpose roller cutter 2 is provided with a similar pair of grooves 30, 31, see Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. l-3 inclusive show roller cutter mounted on the preferred form of the cutter bearing which has ust been described in dctail. As shown in these figures, cutter 2 is provided with the usual central opening 32 inner and outer bearing members together.

by means of which the cutter is mounted for rotation on the bearin In order to prevent wear on the drill head 1 by reason of the rotation of roller cutter 2 during the operation of the drill. roller cutter 2 at the inner end of its central opening 32 is ro- \idcd with an annular recess 33in wiich is seated a washer 34. Washer 34 takes the thrusts from the roller cutter 2 and transmits them to the circumferential bearing shoulder 8 on the inner end of bearing member 5 against which the washer bears. At the outer end of the circular opening 32 in roller cutter 2, the cutter is provided with.

another annular recess 35 in which is seated the circumferentialfiange .16 formed on the outer. end of bearing member'15.

All of the parts in-the construction described fit snugly together and serve to form a rugged roller cutter and bearing construction which may readily be assembled or disassembled. In assembling the parts, cutter 2 and washer 34 are first mounted on outer bearing member 15 against the hearing shoulder 17 thereon. These parts .are then telescoped on the inner bearing member 5 and member 15 rotated so as to interlock the Locking member 22 is then shoved into place and secured by means of cotter pin 27. The device is then ready for use.

\ In dis-assembling the parts, cotter pin 27 and. locking member 22 are removed in order. Due to the nature of locking member 22 and the manner in which it is mounted in the hearing, itis most easily removed by means of a punch which may be inserted through an opening 36 extending .from the opposite inclined side 3 of the drill head to the circumferential flange 8 on bearing member 5, which is directly in line with lug 23 of locking member 22. In order to insert a punch into opening 36, it is necessary to provide the periphery of the opposite roller cutter 2 with a notch or similar cutaway portion 37. Various other means may be employed for removing locking member 22.

In Figs. 79 inclusive, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the co-acting lugs or wings on the inner and outer bearing n-mmbers 5 and 15 are provided --with inclined or wedging' locking faces in order to bind or draw the bearing members into close locking relation. Aside from these inclined co-acting faces of the lugs of the two bearing :nen'tbcrs. the construction and arrangement of the bearing parts are the same. Referring particularly to Fig. 7, which shows the inner bearing member 5, lug 11 is provided opposite bearing shoulder 8 with an inclined face. 38, while the corresponding face 39 of the opposite lug, 10 is inclined in the same manner, thus giving the spaces between lugs 10, 11 and shoulder 8 a wedge shape.

form of the invention, lugs 18, 19 of the outer bearing member tit snugly into the tapered spaces between lugs 10, 11 and shoulder 8 of the inner bearing member.

-As member 15 is rotated on member 5 to interlock the parts, the engagement of the .inclined faces of the co-aclin'g lugs will serve to draw the two bearing members into tirm interlocked relation. I In the modification .shown in Figs. 7-9, inclusive, outer bearing number to is adapted to be rotated in a cinch-wise direction which serves to lock the. parts; Reverse movement of the parts is prevented by the legs 23, 2-1 of locking men ber 22. shown in Fig. 9. It willbe understood that the inclined faces on the lugs of bearing members 5, 15 may be inclined in the opposite direction, so that the members are interlocked by rotation of the outer member in a 'counter-clockwise direction. In Fig. 9 outer bearing member 15 is shown in section in order that the relation between the inter-engaging lugs on the inner and outer bearing members when fully assembled may be made clear. After locking member is put in place it is secured by mcans'of cotter pin-27. In other words, the modified form of the invention is assembled and disasscmblcd in the same manner as is the preferred form shown in Figs. 14.

The roller cutter bearing described is not limited in its use. to a drill or roller cutter of the character illustrated and described herein, but may be used with any type or form of cutter or drill. The inner end of the inner bearing member 5 which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 as forming a part of the drill head 1 need not necessarily form part of a drill, but may be one end of a roller cutter bearing part or assembly which is adapted to be formed as a separate element. from the drill head for insertion therein and removal therefrom.

It is contemplated that various modifications and changes of the invention may be made and it is not intended that it be restricted to the embodiments illustrated and described herein, except as it may be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a roller cutter; a bearing on which said-cutter is mountec. said bearing comprising a plurality of members adapted to be interlocked to form an assembled bearing; means for retaining said tit) bearing members in interlocked relation; and a pin mounted in one of said bearing members to hold said retaining means in place, saidroller cutter being grooved to permit insertion or removalof the pin,

2. A roller cutter bearing comprisinga pair of hearing members havinga bayonet jointconnection with each other; and removable ineans for retaining said bayonet joint; connection in locked condition.

3. A roller cutter-bearing comprising a pair of bearing' in-inbers adapted tobe 112+ sembled to form a'bearing, said members each being provided with means adapted to be brought together and rotated a definite part of a turn relative to each other to interlock the bearing men'iberswith each other; andremovable means for preventing relative rotation of said membersafter they are interlocked.

4. In a roller-cutter bearing, a pair of III- terlocked bearing members: aml means for retaining said members in interlocked relation, one of said bearing members being provided with apunch-hole-for the insertion of a punch to remove said retaining means.

5. A roller cutter-bearing comprising a bearing member having a cylindrical portion provided with a pair of diametricallyopposed, arcuate wings formed on the e.\'- tenor thereof: an annular bearing member also having a similar pair-of wings formed on the. interior thereof. said bearing members being adapted to be assembled by passing the wings of each member through the spaces between thewings on the other memher and then turning-the members so as to locate the lugs behind each other; and an annular locking member located within the annular bearing member and provided on its inner face with a pair of arcuate lugs projecting into the spaces between the wings on said bearing members for preventing relative rotation of said members.

6. A roller cutter bearingcomprising an inner cylindrical bearing member having a eircumterent al bearing shoulder formed thereon said member also being provided with-a pair of radially-disposed arcuate lugs onopposite sides thereof and spaced from said bearing shoulder; an outer annular bearin member barim a eircimferential bearing shoulder formedthereon said mem- .the bearing membc-lsto prevent rotation of the members; and a cotter pin mounted in an opening in the inner bearing member to hold said locking member in place, the outer bearing member being provided with a groove to permit removal of the cotter pin.

T. In a roller cutter bearing, the combination of a bearing member havinga circumferential shoulder and a lug spaced from said shoulder; a second bearing member tel-- escoped oirtlie first hearing member and provided with a lug disposed between said shoulder and lug of the tirst mentioned bear- ,ingjnember; and removable means for pre- 7 ventingdisplacement of the second mentioued lugt'rom between said first mentioned lug and Shoulder.

8. In a roller cntter hearing the combination of a bearing me'abz-r having a pair of spaced circumferentialshoulders; a second bearing member having a lug disposed etween said shoulders of the first mentioned bearing member;- and iueans for preventing displacementof said lug from between said 9. In a roller cutting bearing of the construction claimed in claim 8 the spaced :honlders on the first mentioned bearing member f rniing a tapered slot and the big onthe second mentioned bearing member being wedgcshaped to tit 'into said tapered ing engagement with each other to draw the bearini members together.

'11. A roller cutter bearing of the construction claimed III claim a In which themner 'beariug memberis provided with an annular shoulde against which the' locking member lvars.

l2. roller cutter bearing comprising an inner bearing member having a circumterential shoulder at one end thereof and a pair of diametrieally-opposed arcuate wings spaced from'said shoulder: an annuiar outer' bcariug member also having a similar pair 'of wing formed on the interior thcieot' at one end of the member. said bearing mem her being adapted to be assembled by passing the wings of each member through the spaces between the wings on the other member and then turning the members so as to locate the lugs in ahnement with each other wth the lugs on the outer bca'rmg member titling snugly in the spaces between thelllgs on the inner hearing member and said circumferential shoulder. the opposed. locking l'aces being correspondingly inclined so as to prevent. relative rotation of the bearing members in (me-direction to more the lugs out of alinemeut: and an annular locking member located within the outer bearing rio member and provided with lugs projecting into the spaces between the wings on said bearing members for preventin relative rotation of said membcrs in the opposite direction.

13. The combination of an inner hearing member; an annular outer bearin; member.

said members being provided with complementary wings and spaces, the bearing members being adapted to be assembled by passing the wlng-of each member thr ugh the space on the other member and then turning the members s'oas to-loeate the wings behind each other; a lockin member |nserted between the inner and onterbearing members and filling the .wing spaces so as to maintain the parts in interlocked relation; means for retaining said locking member in place; and a roller cutter rotatively mounted on the outer bearin member.

14. The combination of an inner bearing member; an annular outer bearin member.

bers being'adaptcd to be assembled by pessinp: the wing of each member through the "space on the other memberfnnd then turnin;' the members so as to locate the wings behind each other; a locking member insorted between the inner and outcr bearing members and filling the .wing spaces so as to maintain the parts in interlocked relation; means for retaining said locking member in place. said retaining means comprising a cotter pin passing throu an opening in the inner bearing mern r and bearing against said locking memljer, the outer locking member being groo tg'ed to'permit said eotterpin to be plxced br removed; end a roller cutter rotativebff mounted on the outer bearing member. In testimony whereof! I name to this specification! CLARE0E E.

have signed my 

